Compare towns
New Britain vs Putnam vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Britain has the most renters (54.9% rent).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | New Britain | Putnam | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 74,223Highest |
9,292Lowest |
39,973 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 34.3±1.2Lowest 17% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| New Britain and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±1.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,613±$2kLowest 39% below CT |
$70,561±$7kHighest 26% below CT |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
| Putnam and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,600±$6kLowest 39% below CT |
$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$45Highest 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,846Highest 12% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.1%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 8%±1.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Putnam and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | New Britain High School | Putnam High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
9.5Lowest |
14.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.